Hiller UH-12A accident near New Paltz, New York, May 2, 1982
On May 2, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Hiller UH-12A (helicopter), registered N116S, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Paltz, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Paltz, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller UH-12A · all UH-12As on the register
- Registration
- N116S · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 400 FT AGL, THE PILOT NOTICED A DECAY IN THE MAIN ROTOR RPM; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE RPM WAS REPORTED TO HAVE REMAINED CONSTANT. THE PILOT SUSPECTED A MECHANICAL FAILURE AND ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN APPLE ORCHARD. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED AN APPLE TREE AND LANDED HARD. DURING THE LANDING, THE SKIDS WERE BENT, THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN, THE FUSELAGE STRUCTURE WAS BUCKLED, AND THE TAIL ROTOR WAS DAMAGED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 88 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 59 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-335 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kingston NY
- Destination: Greenwood Lake NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N116S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.